Obituary of Rudy J. Poznicek

Rudy J. Poznicek, age 84, of Yankton, SD passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at his residence. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel in Yankton, SD with Rev. Dean Schroeder officiating. Visitations will be 5 to 7 PM, Friday evening, January 3, 2014 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, with a Scripture service at 7:00 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial of cremated remains will be at a later date. Rudy was born May 21, 1929 to James & Marie (Kuratha) Poznicek near Geddes, SD. At an early age, the family moved from Geddes to a farm east of Tyndall where he spent his childhood and early teens. When he was 5 years old, his mother died leaving his father to raise him and his siblings, a brother Frank, age 13, sister, Lillian, age 9 and Sylvia, 9 months old. Rudy completed the 8th grade at a rural country school near Tyndall. He lost the sight in one eye in a farm accident when he was 15 years old. He worked on the farm with his dad doing field work (even planting corn with horses when he was 12) until his dad left the farm in 1947. Rudy was on his own at age 17. After leaving the farm, he worked as a hired hand in the Lesterville area and also went to Sioux Falls and held several jobs, but the love of farming brought him back to Lesterville where he worked for Dan Morrison until he was drafted to the U.S. Marine Corps and did his training in San Diego, CA. During that time, he met his future wife, Mary Ellen Jensen, in Lesterville in 1951 and they both knew immediately that they were meant to be life's partners no matter what. Rudy was honorably discharged from the Marines and came back to the Utica area and worked as hired help for Emil Kozak and Doc Fosterman by Utica. He and Mary Ellen started farming on their own in 1954 on her grandmother's farm. They had to postpone their June wedding day because of a bad hail storm that took their crops and a tornado that took several buildings, injured some of their cattle and damaged their car. They married later that year on November 7, 1954 and were married over 59 years. They moved to a different farm in the spring of 1955 and Rudy always said it was the happiest days in his life as he finally had a home of his own to enjoy and not have to live with other people. Rudy and Mary Ellen farmed for the nearly 50 years. They purchased their own farm in 1973, but had farmed it since 1961. They were partners in farming and always helped each other with any task that needed to be done, from picking corn to cleaning chickens. He also helped his neighbor by lending a hand. They built a new home by Yankton in 1992 and Rudy continued going to the farm everyday. He retired from the farm in 2000, but continued to go to the farm to cut hay and do upkeep on the buildings. They sold the farm in 2008. Rudy was a true farmer and loved the land. He never came into the house to eat or rest until his cattle were taken care of and all chores done. His fields were always clean, free of weeds and work done on time. Like so many of his friends, he took great pride in his family and was always worried about them. When he was in the hospital the doctor came in and was asking questions like they always do, what's your name? When is your birthday? He then asked Rudy, if you have 7 quarters, what do you have? Rudy right away said 1120. The doctor was baffled until he was reminded that to a farmer a quarter is 160 acres! He was a true farmer! Rudy was not into sports, but loved watching Gunsmoke and Rifleman, and listening to Czech music. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen of Yankton; son, Steve of Vermillion, SD, daughters, Julie (Rich) Fischer and Donna (Paul) Mutschelknaus, both of Lesterville, SD; 3 granddaughters, Shanda Mutschelknaus of Sioux Falls, SD, Emily Mutschelknaus of Sioux Falls, and Jenny (Leo) Grate of Yankton, SD; 1 great grandson; sisters, Lillian Maurer of Kansas City, KS and Sylvia (Dean) Fischer of Grand Junction, CO; a sister-in-law, Marie, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Frank, and nephew, Jim. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.